What to do with mobile LO when working in garden?

[lkmiscnet]

My 12 mo old is crawling and is soon to walk.

I have lots to do in the yard, but don't know where to put him, when I'm up to my elbows in dirt outside. I can't let him crawl around the grass because of everything he puts in his mouth and I can't watch him like a hawk then.

I tried a pack n play, but he hates it and just cries.

Suggestions?

[Llyra]

Will he tolerate being in a stroller?

I always just let mine crawl around and get dirty. But they weren't really big on mouthing stuff. DD2 was my only mouther, and I used to just give her her paci and that kept other stuff out of her mouth. They'd get really filthy, but kids are washable, so that was no big deal.

But if you really can't just let the LO crawl, I think you have to experiment. A stroller with a tray for toys might work-- try offering a drink and a snack while he's in there. You might also if you can try wearing him on your back. That way he feels close and also can see what you're up to. If he's small enough to fit in something like an exersaucer, that might work too. My kids all hated the pack and play-- I think it's because it was hard for them to see out, so they felt shut out of what everybody else was doing. Even taking the high chair outside, and putting it in a level location, might work.

[Abraisme]

Originally Posted by Llyra

I always just let mine crawl around and get dirty. But they weren't really big on mouthing stuff. DD2 was my only mouther, and I used to just give her her paci and that kept other stuff out of her mouth. They'd get really filthy, but kids are washable, so that was no big deal.

I let my baby cruise around, taste things and get filthy, she loves it.

[AllyRae]

I either let her dig with me, or she can play in the sandbox (the sandbox is about 10 feet away from the garden).

[lkmiscnet]

He won't sit still at this stage, so he won't play in one spot. He just wants to crawl. Not knowing what he is going to put in his mouth and eat, I can't just turn my back on him.

And, because I usually am up to my elbows in compost and dirt, it's not a good idea for me to pick him up because I will get his clothes all muddy (and I'm working with manure too) and the last thing I need is more work! Plus, I can't get anything done in the garden because I have to stop literally every 30 sec. to chase him down.

[dahlialia]

Exersaucer works for us, in small doses. As does taking DD for a walk in the stroller, timed so that we arrive back home shortly after she falls asleep for a nap. Dragging her high chair out there, and feeding her lunch, would work too.

[mckittre]

It'll get easier soon - my 15 month old is great in the garden - loves watering things, throwing rocks, etc... I would just dress him in clothes to get muddy in (like you do yourself), so you can pick him up if need be. Do you have much around poisonous that he can eat? Can you put up a little netting he can't get out of to keep him confined (but less confined than the pack and play)? I could wear my son while I gardened when he was smaller - a bit rough on the back, and he'd only make it about 1/2 hour, but it was a help.

[rhiandmoi]

Playyard? Are we allowed to recommend those here?

[omelette]

My ds is 7mos, crawling and standing and not happy to be confined in any sort of contraption. He's also only happy to be worn if he's sleepy. So, gardening at my house isn't really happening this yr. I love the idea of putting him down to explore but everything goes in his mouth and we have deer poop in our yard b/c we haven't finished fencing yet.
I've been trying to take advantage of naps. Our room overlooks the backyard so I can peek at him and hear him with the monitor. Only prob there is that his naps are only 20 min sometimes.
Can you garden when dh gets home?

[wombatclay]

This was me a few weeks ago! DS is crawling/cruising but we have a farm and we're building our home too... I took my eyes off him for a moment and he found a chunk of insulation that blew in from the back yard and almost ate it! Ack! Plus I was getting none of my chores done. DD1 and DD2 are fine, but ds? Different story.

I can do some things with him asleep in the ergo. Other things I've done...

--exersaucer next to me
--small playpen with lots of new toys and his sisters making faces at him/reading to him
--drive him to sleep, then park the car near me (in the shade, with all the doors open) as he sleeps. Same deal with the stroller... get him to sleep, park the stroller.
--one of those mobil fences... sort of a playpen, but without a bottom so he can munch the grass/dirt but I can check for dangerous stuff first.

Good luck!

[rere]

Ok,last year I discover this by accident.I take care of twins who were at that same stage.I was getting the blow up pool ready for the season and they were very interested in it so I put them in there with no water just so they could see what it was all about.Well,they loved it in there.They would stand up and bounce against the sides(they also loved to play with balls in there).It was hilarious and they liked it so much(and they also hated the pac n plays) I ended up getting another one for them to play in while my daughter was in the pool full of water.

[JessieBird]

Working in the garden was the only time I used an exersaucer. Friends gave it to us and I just kept it in the garage. Last summer/fall when DS was 8-11 months old, he loved it for about 1 hour at a time. I'd put him in the shade of a tree and it bought me precious garden time. I felt a bit weird "ditching" him at first but he was just too heavy to wear while bending over or shoveling, etc, and I think he benefited from the independent time.

This year is a different story. DS has been walking since winter and really wants to roam. He's down the driveway and halfway to our village in the blink of an eye and throws tantrums if I try to head him back towards home. So I have done NOTHING in the garden yet. Our yard looks abandoned but he takes me on really nice walks everyday, hand in hand. It's pretty delightful so I'm trying to forget about the garden and yardwork for a year.

[YayJennie]

Is there anything toxic in your yard? If not, I'd just let him wander. My husband cleaned up our back yard on the first nice day in April (turned the soil and picked up all the trash and got most of the sticks and such up), and since then I'm comfortable just letting my son wander around. Yeah, he sometimes eats dirt, but I don't worry to much. It's good outdoor time and he has a blast!

[JessieBird]

Coincidentally, my mom told me about this study last night:

http://www.canada.com/life/parenting...418/story.html

If you google "dirt and serotonin" you can find all sorts of other stories with more scientific details on the study.